Her name is Akari

In sickness

*Akari's POV*

As the morning light stretched across the horizon, peeking it's warm light through the curtains, flooding the room with warm red. Throwing the blankets over my head and turned to my back I let out a muttered groan, feeling the tight soreness every inch of my body.

After rubbing the sleep from the night before I slowly peeked over the comforter, blinking and adjusting them to the light. Sitting up on the bed I looked around the room. "I live here now" I whispered softly as  I rolled to the side and placed my feet on the cold ground, trying to make minimal noise.

I tip toed toward the door, opening it quietly and listening intensively, hearing the quietness except for birds that were chirping their morning songs. I slowly walked through the house, analyzing my steps as I quietly exited the house. The sun was making its way up the sky slowly as I crept onto the roof.

The view of the sunrise looked so beautiful as I sat on the roof tiles. For a moment everything was still as warm sunlight flooded around the skies. Everything felt so still, so peaceful as I clung to my small thin legs; the quiet calmness washed over me as I sucked a deep breath of fresh air and noticed that for the first time I could breath normally.

Birds that were singing their songs grew louder as the morning dragged on. After a while footsteps could be heard coming onto the room. I could tell who it was just by how the air shifted around me.

"Oh, sorry,  I didn't know anyone else was awake" I heard Kyo's voice from behind me, the atmosphere thickened with tension.

I shrugged my shouldered, not taking my eyes off the horizon. "It's fine, please sit" I said as I gestured to next to me.

After a long hesitated pause Kyo shifted uncomfortably and came and sat next to me "Uh.. okay" he muttered, looking off into the distance.

Silence filled the space between us as we both watched the sunrise together, the awkward tension slowly melting away as we both became more relaxed in each other's company. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Kyo staring at me, or at least studying me and by his facial expressions, he still couldn't figure out who I was.

I chuckled quietly as I turned to look at him, a soft smile poking at the corners of my mouth. "Staring at me isn't working" I stated, running my fingers through my hair.

Kyo immediately looked away from me, a slight pale red crept on his cheeks. "I just can't figure it out" He muttered frustratingly and crossed his arms against his chest. "Why can't you just tell me?"

I rolled my eyes and looked back at the horizon, watching the birds fly in the distance. "It's not that simple to me as it might be to you" i sighed, slumping my shoulders. "And it only hurts me in the end if I just tell you" I said, trying to peek beside me, waiting to see if his expression changes.

Kyo looked away from me and grunted irritatingly, but when he looked back to me his eyes were much more soft. "Can you give me something? It's driving me insane!" He exclaimed slamming his fist against the roof that caused me to jump. "Oh.. sorry I just.." he trailed off

I remember Kyo always had a temper. "Don't worry about it" I said as I waved my hand in dismissal. "But, stop acting like a child" I scolded, trying to sound serious but a little laugh slipped out and Kyo smiled slightly and raised an eyebrow. "Look, you're right, it's not fair, but thats life" I stated, but quickly began saying "So i'm willing to let you ask me any question to help you figure it out"

Kyo looked at me, a mix of anger and curiosity. "What's the catch?"

I gave Kyo a half smile "You can't ask about our personal history and you have until Tohru come's home"

Kyo looked like he was about to argue, but clamped his mouth shut and got to his feet. "Fine" he said as he exited the roof.

I could tell he was upset, but nothing at this moment could take away from the calmness I truly felt.

_____________

After a while I made my way off the roof as my stomach started to demand that I eat something. As I walked inside a wave of smells coming from the kitchen caught my nose and I followed the delicious smell. Yuki was in the kitchen as I walked in, he was distracted as he made rice balls and tea.

"Good morning miss Akari" he said kindly went he looked up and noticed me. I have found it weird that he has yet to refer me by last name, it was typical Yuki to do that to people outside his family. "How did you sleep?"

I couldn't help but smile at him, he was always so thoughtful even though we rarely had interactions before. "I didn't even know you could sleep that well" i said chuckling, i could feel a sense of happiness in my chest. I haven't felt that in such a long time.

"I made tea and some rice cakes, i figured we could share?" He said as he poured some tea and a cup and held it out for me to take.

I took the cup gently "thank you, and sleeping anywhere but that shack is better"

Yuki smiled softly at me as he finished making the rice balls and gathered them in a small box. He looked like he wanted to say something, but was hesitant.

"Please, if you have something to say don't hold your tongue" I said teasingly, taking a sip from my cup of tea and stepping closer to Yuki for a more private conversation.

Yuki looked off into space for a minute then turned back to me "I want to see it, the shack where you lived" his voice was quiet, almost scared like he was worried about my reaction.

Remembering the shack in detail brought back painful memories and my chest started to feel heavy. My lungs began to feel like lead and i was struggling to breathe "I..uh.."

"I only meant in the future, only if and when you're ready" he quickly interrupted me and placed a hand on my shoulder for reassurance, his kind eyes staring into mine and i felt my fear of the Shack rose and dispersed like morning fog. "I just want to know you better, to understand you better"

To understand you better. Those words rang in my ears. I've never heard those words used like that before. It made me feel an emotion i wasn't familiar with; and the breath in my lungs caught back to me and i sighed with a sense of calmness again. "One day, I'll take you there"

We sat in quiet silence as we drank our tea and ate the rice balls, occasionally looking to each other and smiling or nodding when loud footsteps could be heard entering the room. Kyo walked with purpose as his eyes started at me with determination "Do you know our family secret?" He flat out asked, looking impatient as he crossed his arms.

"That you turn into the zodiac animals if someone outside the main house and also the opposite sex hug you" I stated curtly, looking back at Kyo, narrowing my eyes.

Kyo's eyes shifted and grew quiet for a second before nodding and walking right out without another word.

Yuki looked at me with slight confusion and i let out a chuckle "I'll tell you about it later" I said as i finished the last rice ball. "Hatori should be making a visit today, so I'm gonna go enjoy the nice air, care to join?" I asked, cleaning my cup and putting it away.

Yuki smiled softly at me "lead the way" he said as we walked together outside.